The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a hefty fine of $110 million on British American Tobacco (BAT) Nigeria and affiliated companies for breaching multiple provisions of the FCCP Act and other related regulations, the commission confirmed in a statement released in Abuja.
The FCCPC revealed that the penalties were the result of a comprehensive investigation and mutual discussions held between the Commission and BAT parties under the Cooperation/Assistance Rules & Procedure (CARP), 2021.
“This penalty was agreed upon after extensive engagements in accordance with our Cooperation/Assistance Framework (CAF) and relevant regulatory guidelines,” stated the FCCPC.
The imposed fine also involved a stringent 24-month compliance and monitoring period supervised by the FCCPC, ensuring the companies adopted appropriate business practices and behavioural conduct.
The FCCPC emphasised that, as part of the agreement, BAT parties were obliged to conduct mandatory public health and tobacco control advocacy aligned with the existing tobacco control legislation and regulations.
“In exchange for fulfilling their obligations under the Consent Order, the Commission withdrew pending criminal charges against BATN and an employee related to the obstruction of executing the search warrant and non-cooperation in the investigation,” the FCCPC affirmed.
The investigation, initiated by the Commission in August 2020, stemmed from credible information that necessitated a deeper inquiry into the activities of British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited and its affiliates.
Through court-authorised search and seizure operations in January 2021, the FCCPC gathered substantial evidence, including forensic analysis of electronic communications and other relevant data, uncovering various violations of the FCCPA and associated laws.
The FCCPC underscored its unwavering commitment to ensuring fair markets and safeguarding consumer interests, emphasising the need for accountability in businesses, even if it entails rigorous and prolonged investigations.
